Big winners on first night of SAMA19

Johannesburg - SA Idols winner Khaya, Mi Casa, Jax Panix and Lira were some of the big names to walk away with awards on the first night of the 19th Annual MTN South African Music Awards (SAMA19) at the Sun City Superbowl.

The curtain raiser on Friday night was hosted by comedian Tumi Morake and focused on recognising "sales prowess and technical brilliance" ahead of the main SAMAs show on Saturday.

The first night of the show saw Lifetime Achievement Awards presented by the renowned Vusi Mahlasela and Ray Phiri to three legendary icons in the South African music industry: Dr Thomas Chauke, Sizwe Zako and posthumously to Johannes Kerkorrel.

SA Idols winner Khaya picked up the coveted Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album award for For You, while Afrikaans musician Theuns Jordaan won Best Selling Album for Roeper.

Songbird Lira scooped the Best Live DVD for her The Captured Tour Concert Film, while DJ Kent picked up the Remix of the Year gong for his remix of the hit Theo Kgosinkwe track, Thinking About You Ft. Zonke.

Jax Panix was rewarded for his work on Toya Delazy's debut album Due Drop Deluxe with the Best Producer award, while former Mean Mr Mustard frontman Mark Beling picked up the statuette for Best Engineer for the album Strong by female adult contemporary trio BlackByrd.

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